KD Decoratives

Location: Huddersfield

A European leader

Founded in Huddersfield in 1977, family firm KD Decoratives is one of Europe’s leading businesses in its field – naming UK theme park giant Merlin and some of the world’s largest shopping centres as its top clients.

From its Huddersfield premises, the firm specialises in producing huge festive displays for shopping centres, and houses a magical 12,000 sq ft showroom, featuring an ever-changing display of animatronics and Christmas grottos.

The company employs over 80 people with a combination of traditional skills such as carving, illustrating and sculpturing, as well as cutting edge animatronics technology and computerised design packages.

The firm’s client base includes Merlin, the company behind most of the UK’s theme parks, including Alton Towers, for whom they have created a number of larger than life animatronics which both delight and scare thousands of the park’s visitors every season. In 2012 the firm was responsible for manufacturing and creating the largest Lego themed structure in the country at Legoland Hotel Windsor, with a huge 12 meter high Clock Tower that is home to a giant Lego Dragon, a Lego feature Archway, a fully themed indoor pool, play area and restaurant, an animated reception feature and theming to 150 bedrooms. The project has been praised for its world class standard by owner Merlin Entertainments. Similar projects are now in the pipeline internationally.

KD’s high profile work and calling for specialist skills attracts high calibre staff from all over the country and Managing Director Richard Kitchen-Dunn says its Huddersfield location is a huge benefit for the firm;

“As a location for our business, Huddersfield offers value for money and its central location is fantastic for our customers. Clients fly in from all corners of the world to meet with us and view our showroom and the great links the town has with the local airports make this an easy process.”

With his three sons performing major roles within the business, Richard is keen to keep KD a family firm, and one which is proud of its Huddersfield roots.

Visit the KD Decoratives website - www.kddecoratives.com